Fishing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A fishing apparatus for assisting an angler in the placement of a lure or bait in a lake or stream is disclosed. The apparatus provides parallel buoyant hulls having vertical planes depending downward therefrom with adjustable hydrofoils attached to the planes. The device further provides a release mechanism and spring-biased visible trip flag. Methods of use of the device are also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention.

The invention relates to a fishing apparatus and in particular to aside-planing river trolling device.

2. Discussion of the Technical Problems.

Sport angling is a popular pastime. Increasingly greater number ofpeople are now enjoying the sport of fishing. Many people use smallboats and others fish from the sides of streams or lakes.

A problem plaguing many fishermen is the problem of casting a lure orbait sufficiently far from shore so that it is placed in the vicinity ofthe fish. Additionally, undesirable conditions may exist in stream orriver fishing when the lure is cast by an angler situated on the bank ofthe stream. The lure tends to drive downstream until the line issubstantially aligned with the direction of the water movement and thelure thus is ultimately placed too close to the bank to be mosteffective.

In situations where a number of people are trolling from a small boat,it is easy for the lines of the trollers to become entangled. Thus it isalso desirable to have a means by which the bait or lures could beplaced at a distance from the boat without facing the inherent tanglingproblem.

A number of devices have been devised to assist anglers in castingincluding various floats and the like. Some devices employ the motivepower of moving water passing by the fisherman, whether in a boat oralongside a stream. These devices primarily are used to float the baitor lure out into a particular position in the water whereby thefisherman can increase the distance of his cast by the use of suchdevices. Unfortunately, the prior art floats suffer from a number ofdefinite drawbacks.

Prior art fishing floats, current corks, and what have been calledfishing kites generally do not allow the angler to have a fine-tunedcontrol of the device so that the lure or bait can be placed wheredesired. They generally do not either provide sufficient buoyancy, failto have trip flags or other visual indicators that a fish has taken thebait or lure, fail to have sufficient line tension adjustment, and failto provide positive means of releasing the line when the fish strikes.

Examples of fishing floats, kites, trolling devices, and the like can befound in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,461,115 issued July 24, 1984 to Carrillo,4,464,858 issued Aug. 14, 1984 to Wright, 3,464,142 issued Sept. 2, 1969to Hubbart, 2,862,326 issued Dec. 2, 1958 to Minera, 3,760,762 issuedSept. 22, 1973 to Spongberg, 3,318,038 issued May 9, 1967 to Delsol,809,965 issued Jan. 16, 1906 to Lystne, 3,044,208 issued July 17, 1962to Minera, and 3,216,147 issued Nov. 9, 1965 to Minera.

Very few devices in the known art relate to a fishing apparatus havingtwo hulls and none known are directed to providing fishing deviceshaving two air-filled hulls and providing a trip flag along with a fineadjustment line tension and positive control whereby the angler cancontrol the placement of the device and the lure or bait with precision.

Accordingly, a need exists for an angling device that would provide aconvenient method for precise placement of fishing lures and baitswhether angling from a boat or on shore in rivers, streams, or lakes.Such a device would provide a simple, inexpensive apparatus that couldenhance the fishing capability of the user by allowing the user to placethe fishing lure in a natural setting even at some distance from theangler. Such a device should be easily controlled, have a fine-tuneadjustment of the line tension, provide a visual indicator that a fishhas taken the lure, and provide for a positive, easily used and adjustedline release. The instant invention is directed to all of these needs aswell as to others as explained in the following summary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a feature of the instant invention to provide a fishing devicewhich allows a fisherman to utilize the flow of water past the fishermanto carry bait or lures at a greater distance than the angler wouldotherwise be able to. The device can be utilized with one or two linesand can be connected directly to the lure or so that it merely serves asa platform to support the lure in the proper position over the body ofwater.

These and other features and objects are attained according to theinstant invention by providing a fishing device having two air-filledbuoyant hulls which are rigidly attached, one to another. The hullsprovide buoyancy to support the lure and also allow for greatervisibility of the device. Furthermore, the device is provided with twoplaning surfaces, each in turn being attached to one of the buoyanthulls so that the force of the current will allow the device to move atan angle to the fisherman, thus moving the attached lure into the properposition according to the fisherman's desire. Adjustable foils attachedto the submerged planes allow the fisherman to adjust the device fordepth control and stability. The foils are rotatably adjusted to alloweither the front end or the back end to be adjusted up or down,depending upon the current in which the device is utilized.

The rigid section connecting the two hulls is provided in an air foil orwater foil shape at an angle so that the device is self-surfacing. Atrip flag is provided to visually indicate to the angler that a fish hasbeen hooked. The trip flag is attached to a release mechanism on thebridge portion between the two hulls. The line release provides for afine adjustment of the line tension. Attachment holes are provided sothat the device can be utilized either with a single line which includesthe device with the lure or with two lines in which the line containingthe lure is only attached to the device at the line release and aseparate line controls the placement of the angling device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantage of this invention will become apparent upon considerationof the following detailed disclosure of the invention, especially whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings herein.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the angling device in place in a streamin which the device and a lure are connected and controlled by a singleline in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the angling device in place in a streamin which the device and a lure are connected and controlled by two linesin accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a overall perspective view of the angling device as shown outof the water.

FIG. 4 is a left side elevational view of the device showing the tripflag in the cocked, unreleased position.

FIG. 5 is a left side elevational view of the device showing the tripflag in the upright, released position indicating a fish strike.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the device.

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the device in which a single line isused and the release has not been tripped.

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the device in which a single line isused and the release has been tripped.

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan elevational view of the device utilizing twolines in which the release has not been tripped.

FIG. 10 is a further method of attaching a line so that when tripped,the device would return to the angler's position, all in accordance withthe present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The angling device of the instant invention is depicted generally inFIGS. 1, 2, and 3 at numeral 10.

As can be seen by reference to FIG. 1, the device 10 provides a pair ofbuoyant hulls 11 and 12 which are hollow, air-filled buoyant hulls. Inturn, hulls 11 and 12 are rigidly connected to each other by bridge 13.

With reference to FIG. 3 where the device 10 is depicted outside of thewater, it can be seen that hulls 11 and 12 are further connected tovertical planes 14 and 16 which extend beneath buoyant hulls 11 and 12and depend into the water as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to provide a planeagainst which the angler 15 can pull device 10. With further referenceto FIG. 3, it can be seen that vertically depending planes 14 and 16 arefurther provided with adjustable foils or fins 21, 22, 23, and 24. Theseadjustable foils can be rotated up and down along swivel disks 26 and 27as depicted in FIG. 4 so that the angle of the foil 21 and 22 can beadjusted in accordance with the fisherman's desire as to the planingaction of the device 10. Further attached to buoyant hulls 11 and 12 aredecorative vertical fins 28 and 29 which provide a decorative effect,making the device 10 appear to be fish-like. Vertical fins 28 and 29also provide structural integrity for the attachment of bridge 13 as canbest be shown in FIG. 6. Further attached to buoyant hulls 11 and 12 arehorizontal attachment strips 31 and 32 which are provided with holes 33to allow the fisherman 15 to attach the line for controlling the device10. As can be seen with reference to FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, thehorizontal attachment strips 31 and 32 are provided on both sides of thedevice 10 so that it can be used from either a right-side or a left-sideposition.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 6, it can be seen that bridge 13 isprovided with upright post 35 to which spring 34 is attached. Trip flagpost 36 is attached to the upper portion of spring 34 by inserting post36 within spring 34 in a manner well known in the art. Trip flag 37 isattached to pole 36. As can be seen with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5,trip flat 37 can either be in the horizontal position as shown in FIG. 4or in the upright position as shown in FIG. 5, depending on whether ornot it is held down by release hook 38 which is attached to pole 36 andwhich can be slidably released.

It can be seen by reference to FIG. 3 that release mechanism 40 providesa mechanism by which the strike of a fish is indicated by the uprightmovement of trip flag 37 and the release of the line having the lure orbait is made so that the fish can be retrieved by the angler 15. Theoperation of release 40 is depicted in FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 10. Release 40is in essence a cylindrical rod 41 extending rearwardly from bridge 13.Rod 41 is provided with a slit 42 separating rod 41 into two halves. Rod41 is further tapered or threaded to allow keeper 43, which is anannular ring, to be slid or threaded along rod 41 to compress slit 42together. When line 50 is placed within slit 42 as depicted in FIG. 7,keeper 43 is urged toward bridge 13 along rod 41. The tension on theline release 40 is increased. If a pull or sufficient force is felt athook 51, line 50 is removed from the slit 42 in release 40 and line 51is allowed to be free of release 40. The force along line 51 furtherpushes hook 38 off of tapered end 41 so that trip flag 37 is released tostand in an upright position as depicted in FIG. 5.

It is noted that other attachment holes such as holes 61 and 62 on FIGS.4 and 5 are provided on both vertical planes 14 and 16 so thatadditional methods can be employed to attach line 50 to the device 10.

The operation of the device will now be described. There are basicallytwo ways to utilize the device. The first method is to employ a singleline as depicted in FIG. 1. The single line allows an angler to attachline 70 through horizontal attachment point 32 through one of the holes33 in horizontal attachment point 32 whereby the line is then run backthrough hole 62 and thereupon up through slit 42 in releasse 40 as alldepicted in FIG. 7. By utilizing the single-line method, if a fishshould strike or hook himself on hook 51 as depicted in FIG. 7, the pullon line 50 would release the trip flag 37 and line 70 would pull throughhole 33 in horizontal attachment 32. At that time, line 50, which is acontinuation of line 70, after releasing from release mechanism 40,would allow the line to move so that hook 51 moves up to hole 62 invertical plane 16. When that occurs, device 10 is positioned near thehooked fish (not shown) which is hooked onto hook 51, and both fish anddevice 10 are reeled in toward fisherman 15 in a normal manner.

By use of the single-line method as shown in FIGS. 1, 7, and 8, anangler need not use an additional rod and reel to position device 10. Ifone wished to use a two-line method, it is possible for angler 15 toattach a separate line 80 onto the device 10 by means of placing it inone of the holes 33 in horizontal attachment point 32 and thereupon upto hole 61 for a rigid attachment. By placing line 80 in a differenthole 33 in horizontal attachment 32, the angle of device 10 with respectto the fisherman can be varied so that the device will move fartherupstream or farther downstream as desired. The attachment hole utilizedvaries with the conditions; however, it gives the fisherman greatflexibility in determining the placement of the device 10. Similarly,when using a single-line method, it is possible to route the single linethrough a different hole 33 in horizontal attachment 32 to achieve thesame angled relationship, thus placing device 10 where desired.

Still in reference to FIG. 9 where it can be seen that a separate line50 having hook 51 is routed into the line release 40 as previouslydescribed with reference to line release 40 so that when a fish attachesitself to hook 51, the resulting pull releases trip flag 37 and line 51.When that takes place, the fisherman can see that the line has beenreleased. Device 10 would remain in essentially the same position;however, the fish is only attached to line 50 and is free from device10. The fisherman thus lands the fish in a normal manner.

A further method of attaching the device is depicted in FIG. 10 in whicha single line 50 is routed up through hole 33 in horizontal attachment32, then up through hole 61, back to hole 62, and then up through linerelease 40 in the same manner as previously described. If a fish shouldimpale itself upon hook 51, the resulting pull would release trip flag37 as well as line 50. However, the device would remain attached to line50 and since it is routed up further to the nose by way of hole 62 ofthe device, the device would then plane toward the fisherman, thushelping to retrieve the fish.

It should be noted that additional decorative embellishments such asteeth as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 could be utilized with the device inorder to further enhance its attractiveness.

The use of foils 21, 22, 23, and 24 as previously described to set theplane of the device in an adjustable fashion allow greater control bythe fisherman at which depth the device 10 will ride in the water. Instrong current, foils 21, 22, 23, and 24 reduce the drag of the device10 as the device 10 is raised slightly out of the water so that hulls 11and 12 are not as deep as they previously were and the resultant pull onthe device is reduced even as to the flow of the water is increased,thus making it much more convenient for the fisherman to employ thedevice without excessive drag.

It is to be understood in the preferred embodiment that the device iscomposed of a polycarbonate or polystyrene plastic; however, anysuitable material which is water-resistant could be employed withvarying degrees of quality. It is contemplated that the device could bemanufactured in a number of bright colors which would allow the device10 to be easily seen even in twilight hours when many fishermen would beutilizing it.

Although specific applications, materials, components, connections,sequences of events and methods have been stated in the abovedescription of the preferred embodiment of the invention, other suitablematerials, other applications, components, and process steps as listedherein may be used with satisfactory results and varying degrees ofquality. In addition, it will be understood that various other changesin details, materials, steps, arrangements, parts, and uses which havebeen herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature ofthe invention will occur to and may be made by those skilled in the art,upon a careful reading of this disclosure, and such changes are intendedto be included within the principles and scope of this invention ashereinafter claimed.

I claim:
 1. A fishing apparatus comprising a first buoyant hull having adownwardly depending side plane attached thereto; a second buoyant hullhaving a downwardly depending side plane attached thereto; a rigidbridge means attached between said first hull and said second hull; anda fishing line release means attached to said bridge.
 2. The fishingapparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said first and said secondhulls are each comprised of elongate buoyant closed tubes alignedsubstantially parallel to one another.
 3. The fishing apparatus asdescribed in claim 2 wherein said bridge is comprised of an angled foilmeans.
 4. The fishing apparatus as described in claim 1 furthercomprising side horizontal attachment means.
 5. The fishing apparatus asdescribed in claim 4 further comprising holes within said sidehorizontal attachment means.
 6. The fishing apparatus as described inclaim 5 further comprising fishing line attachment means attached tosaid side planes.
 7. The fishing apparatus as described in claim 1further comprising trip flag means.
 8. The fishing apparatus asdescribed in claim 7 wherein said trip flag means comprises asubstantially vertical post attached to said bridge; a trip flag post; acoil spring attached between said bridge vertical post and said tripflag post; and a flag member attached to said trip flag post.
 9. Thefishing apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said line releasemeans comprises a substantially horizontal rod depending rearwardly fromsaid bridge wherein said rod is provided with a slit therewithin andwherein said rod is tapered and wherein said rod is further providedwith a sliding ring.
 10. The fishing apparatus as described in claim 9wherein said horizontal rod is threaded and a threaded nut co-actingupon said threaded rod to squeeze said slit.
 11. The fishing apparatusas described in claim 1 further comprising decorative fin means attachedto said first and said second hull.
 12. The fishing apparatus asdescribed in claim 11 further comprising substantially horizontal foilsattached to said side planes.
 13. The fishing apparatus as described inclaim 12 wherein said horizontal foils are selectively rotatable inpitch angle.